Daniel 2 - Nebuchadnezzar

 

Daniel 2 – Nebuchadnezzar

 

Nebuchadnezzar’s advisory council consisted of magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and the Chaldeans. He gathered these men to interpret a troubling dream, unaware that God intended it as a vehicle through which He would reveal His purposes.

 

Nebuchadnezzar could conquer empires, but he could not conquer his own anger (Prov. 16:31). He understood how to defeat the enemy, but he could not understand the message of God. Daniel had patience and self-control and could explain the mysteries of God. A pure heart is better than a powerful throne.

 

Daniel and his friends knew the “God of heaven” who is merciful, answers prayer, reveals secrets, establishes rulers, and will one day set up His kingdom. Because the four men could come to God’s throne, they had no fear of Nebuchadnezzar’s throne.

 

When he explained the dream, Daniel gave the glory to God and shared the credit with his three friends. He also saved the lives of the king’s wise men (the Chaldeans) when he could have exposed them as frauds. The presence of a believer can mean deliverance for unbelievers (Job 2:7-10; Acts 27:21-25), and we must be forgiving to our enemies. After all, we want to win them to the Savior.

 

Daniel is a good example of a good leader. He spoke with sound counsel and deep wisdom to the authorities and took time to seek God for his words. Impulsiveness is not of the Lord; instead, it points to a person who forges ahead, impatient for God’s answer. Responsiveness is the mark of one who lets God guide in His time.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans for You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Through the Bible by J. Vernon McGee.

 

 

Daniel 1 - A Man of God

 

Daniel 1 – A Man of God                                                                      

 

When Nebuchadnezzar began his conquest of Judah, he deported several Jews to Babylon, including Daniel and his friends, who were probably teenagers at the time. God blessed Daniel and gave him important places of service under four different rulers who represented three different kingdoms.

 

The world always wants the best, but these young men determined to give their best to the Lord. It is possible to serve the Lord even in Babylon. Think of Jospeh in Egypt and Esther in Persia. Don’t complain about the place where God puts you. Ask Him to use you while you are there.

 

The world wants to change you and make you a “conformer”, but God can help you become a “transformer” (Rom. 12:1-2). Daniel and his friends had a new home, strange new names, new teachings, and were even offered a new diet; but they kept the same heart’s dedication to the Lord (Prov. 4:23).

 

God can give us favor in difficult places. Daniel was courteous to his guards and did not create problems for them. He was following the counsel of Jeremiah (Jer.29) and the example of Joseph (Gen. 39:4).

 

When everything in your life is upsetting and you find yourself in new circumstances that you cannot control, let the Lord take over and work out the plan He has in mind. If your heart is right with Him. His hand will work for you.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J.Vernon McGee Thru the Bible. Nelson’s Quick Reference

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

Ezekiel 45-48 - The Holy District

 

Ezekiel 45- The Holy District

 

According to J. Vernon McGee he states the reason why there will be sacrifices after Jesus Returns is because the literal blood of Christ is going to be in heaven. Our salvation from sin and hell unto heaven was a pretty big job, one that only God could undertake. The blood of Christ will be in heaven to remind the church of this, and the sacrifices will be restored here on earth to reveal to the people how they were redeemed.

 

The Levites will inhabit a large portion of territory as their inheritance, although it will not be considered theirs, but the Lord’s. God exhorts the leaders of the millennial kingdom to be the sort of godly men God had always sought to lead His people. Very practical measures and directives are given.

 

Two feasts will take place, Passover, and the Feast of the Tabernacles.

 

Ezekiel 46 – The manner of Worship

 

In the Millennium, a family’s property must remain in their possession and not be permanently sold or transferred to someone else. Not even the prince or leader could give away his family’s property, and neither could he take anyone’s property away from them. Justice will prevail in this kingdom of the Lord’s holiness.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

 

Ezekiel 47-48 – Depths and Dimensions

 

This river speaks of the healing and life-giving power of the Holy Spirit of God (John 7:37-39). No matter how deep you want to go into the things of God, the opportunity is there. It’s tragic that too many linger in the shallows when they could be enjoying the depths.

God assigns our inheritance, and He will keep His promise to Abraham and give Israel their land.

The important thing about the land is not the river or the borders but the glorious presence of God.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible

 

Ezekiel 44 - Laws Governing Priests.

 

Ezekiel 44 – Laws Governing Priests.

 

Once the Lord has entered the temple through the gate that faces the east, the gate is to be closed permanently. The shut gate is a symbol of the Lord’s presence.

 

The identity of the prince is not known, but clearly it is not the Messiah, since this prince needs to make a sin offering for himself and is said to have children. This prince or leader carries out many of the duties that the high priest of OT days formerly handled.

 

The glory of the Lord will fill this temple as it did in Moses’ day (Ex. 40:34,35) Solomon’s day (I Kings 8:10-12). Ezekiel had said that the glory of the Lord left the first temple before its destruction, and so the glory of the Lord was not said to fill the rebuilt temple in Haggai’s day. That new filling awaits the construction of the Millennial temple.

 

Somebody must serve in the new temple, so God gave Ezekiel instructions concerning the Levites and priests and the manner of worship He wanted. The emphasis is on the word (My); My sanctuary, My food, My covenant, My holy things, etc. One reason the temple was destroyed is that the priests and Levites forgot it was the house of God, and they did whatever they pleased.

 

It is a privilege to minister for the Lord! Never lose the wonder of belonging to God and being asked to serve Him.

 

Unfaithfulness in service can lead to loss of privileges, but faithfulness can mean being able to draw near to serve the Lord. The priests had to be careful what they wore, what they ate and drank and how they looked. How could they teach the people to have discernment if they did not practice discernment.

The prince will only worship at the threshold of the gate and the people only at the entrance, but we have the privilege today of entering into the presence of God (Heb. 10:19-25)/

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah, J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

 

 

Ezekiel 41-43 - Heaven is a Motivation

 

Ezekiel 41, 42 – Heaven is a Motivation

 

Ezekiel’s vision describes the main room of the temple, sometimes called the holy place (Exodus 26:33). There is little said about the temple decorations, other than windows and carvings of palm trees and cherubim (I Kings 6:15). While the text does not give the significance of either the palm trees or the cherubim, ever since the Maccabean revolt, palm trees signified political independence to the Jews, and cherubim were usually connected to the holiness of God.

 

Ezekiel’s temple set aside an enormous amount of land for the sanctuary, almost a square mile in area.

 

Ezekiel 43 – The Glory Returns

 

The temple will be a place of sacrifice and singing and a place where God’s glory will dwell. Ezekiel had described how the glory left the old temple, and now he describes how the glory returns and fills the house.

The sacrificial offerings were memorial offerings. They did not atone for sin but looked to the future work of Christ (John 1:29). The beauty and grandeur of the temple mean nothing if God is not present.

 

Today, the bodies of God’s people are His temple (I Cor. 6:19-20), and so is His church (ph. 2:19-22). Just as God has a beautiful plan for His future temple in Jerusalem, so He has a plan for His people individually (Eph 2:10) and His church collectively. We are to be a holy temple, dedicated to Him alone, we are to radiate the glory of God.

The whole millennial temple is designed to broadcast the holiness and grandeur of God; it is built on a grand scale to impress those who see it and use it that they serve and worship a God who is far greater than any enticement to sin. The structure itself is designed to help them remember the past but also to glory in God, and in the good present He has brought about.

The millennial sacrifices will constitute a memorial of Jesus’ death, much as observing the Lord’s Supper is a reminder of His death (Luke 22:19). Also, just as the Old Testament sacrifices looked forward symbolically to Christ’s death, so the sacrifices of the millennial kingdom will look back in remembrance to His sacrifice on the cross.

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible, J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

Ezekiel 40 - A New City, A New Temple

 

Ezekiel 40 – A New City, a new Temple

 

The center of worship in the Millennium will be the temple. This will be an altogether new temple constructed especially for use during the thousand-year reign of Christ.

 

Ezekiel received this vison a little over a third of the way through the 70 years of captivity prophesied by Jeremiah (Jer. 29:10). A dozen years after the destruction of Jerusalem the exiles needed a fresh word of hope to keep them focused in a positive way on the future. They needed a reminder that God would indeed return them to the Promised Land, and Ezekiel’s vision of a staggering new temple brought encouragement to their hearts.

 

It is very likely the temple Ezekiel saw belongs to the period of the Millennium and is in Jerusalem (Isa. 2:2; Micah 4:1).

 

A divine messenger, a being, who had the appearance of bronze served as Ezekiel’s tour guide for the temple. The messenger made it very clear that the prophet was to pay attention to everything he saw and heard in the vision, and then communicate everything in the vision with care to the countrymen. While the wealth of detail may not seem very important or interesting to us, it communicated to the exiles that God had very meticulous and expansive plans for the nation of Israel, despite the present captivity.

 

One day the scattered people would be regathered, and the defiled people cleansed. The land would be restored to beauty and fruitfulness, and there would be a new city, a new temple, and a new priesthood serving the Lord in holiness.

 

This vision was to be declared to the people so that they would repent their sins. The assurance of a glorious future helps to sustain God’s people during the trials of life (John 17:22-24)

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible

J. Vernon McGee Thru the Bible

Ezekiel 39 - Gog's Armies Destroyed

 

Ezekiel 39 – Gog’s Armies Destroyed

 

Ezekiel tells the people that the Lord will knock his weapon out of Gog’s left hand, implying that not even a little battle with Israel will take place. God will strike dead the invading hordes wherever they enter Israel, whether from the plains or the mountains. He will also send fire on the homeland of Gog and his allies, thus demonstrating that He is the God of the whole earth.

 

The armies that unsuccessfully invade Israel will be so massive that it will take seven years for the Israelites to burn the weapons left behind. This seven-year period refers to the tribulation period spoken of in Daniel 9:27 and Revelation 11:3; 13:5, placing the battle just after the Rapture and early in the tribulation.

 

The massive number of corpses left behind by Gog’s obliterated armies requires the people of Israel to engage in an unprecedented burial operation, a marvel that takes seven months to complete. This enormous operation prevents travelers from moving freely in the region for a time and requires both volunteer and professional help to complete.

 

After having dealt in judgment against the invading enemy from the north, allows the antichrist to be the world ruler for the remainder of the tribulation period. Then the Lord Jesus will come to the earth to establish His kingdom (Rev. 19).

 

Liars should stop lying, thieves should stop stealing, the lawless should become law-abiding, and righteousness should prevail in the city. Only then, God will acknowledge it and rain blessings on His people. God never blesses that which is wrong. Mankind is not going to escape judgment. We might think we will get away with our sin, but we will not. (Heb. 2:3). God’s Holy name will be vindicated.

 

He has loved us enough to give His Son, but if we reject His mercy and grace He will reject us. This is His universe, this is His earth, and He is running it according to His perfect plan. We need to get in step with Him.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah, J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible